Aussie opener Jake Weatherald has revealed the meaning behind the cricket gesture Steve Smith made towards Jofra Archer in the final moments of the second Test. The second Test match ended with Archer opting to share some words with Smith with Australia only needing a handful of runs to win the match.
“Bowl fast when there is nothing going on, champion,” Smith said after the pair shared words. Ricky Ponting felt Archer picked the wrong time to get in Smith’s face and the intimidation mind games could have started earlier.
Smith then punished Archer having hit him for six after the bowler tried to put him off his game. With tensions mounting, the Aussie batter then finished the taunting having made a gesture towards Archer.
Jake Weatherald has revealed Steve Smith (pictured right) made towards Jofra Archer in the final moments of the second Test meant ‘take a rest’. (Images: Getty Images/Fox Sports)
And Weatherald has revealed the meaning behind the gesture. Speaking ahead of the third Test, Weatherald said Smith was gesturing for Archer to ‘take a rest’ after being smashed out of the ground.
“I don’t necessarily know where it originated from. I know a lot of blokes from South Australia use it. A lot of the boys do it. I think it just means ‘rest’. Have a rest. Have a spell, basically,” he told Cricket.com.au’s Unplayable Podcast. “I think that’s the gist of it.” But Weatherald admitted it was very unlikely Archer had any idea what this meant.
And to be fair, most of the Australian viewers were also wondering what Smith was up to with the gesture. Fans will be hoping there is more back and forth between Archer and Smith with both named for the third Test in Adelaide. Smith has dominated Archer throughout their career with the English bowler still yet to get the mercurial batter out.
Jake Weatherald also gets involved in clash
Weatherald also got involved in the exchange having been down at the non-striker’s end. Weatherald called out Archer after the exchange. “Spit it out if you are going to say something,” he was heard saying on the stump mic, revealed by Fox Sports.
Although England captain then got involved and took a swipe at the opener’s confidence. “You got 70 and started chatting,” Ben Stokes said of Weatherald. He was referring to Weatherald’s first innings where he scored 72, the second-highest total for an Australian player.
“I was only saying something because you were saying something now,” Weatherald responded. “I say it with a smile on my face though Jake,” Stokes said appearing to play down the tense situation. But the exchange backfired when Smith doubled down and helped Australia score the winning runs.
Ricky Ponting critical of Jofra Archer
Former Aussie captain was quick to call out Archer during the Channel 7 broadcast. “Jofra’s finally come to life, six days into the series, when the second Test match is gone – he starts chirping. Too late for that, champ,” the former Australia captain said.
“That’s what Smithy said to him as well, ‘Bowling quick now, mate, when the game is over – good on ya’. Now they’ve all started. Too late, boys. You’ve had your chance for four days. You haven’t been good enough, (and) it’s too late to start.”
Jofra Archer (pictured left) arguing with Steve Smith (pictured right) at the Gabba.